REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: December 1, 2021 Report No. FIN-21-021
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Ian Irvine, Director of Financial Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Local Grant Request - Victoria Jazz Fest
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
It is accepted procedure that staff not make recommendations regarding funding requests. Options available to Council are listed below under ALTERNATIVES.
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Council Policy FIN-20 Local Grants
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy, livable and diverse community
BACKGROUND:
A local grant application has been received from the Victoria Jazz Society to support the establishment of a TD Jazz Fest site in Esquimalt. The application indicates that Bullen Park has been identified as a potential outdoor location where free afternoon and ticketed evening performances would occur during the festival to be held in June and July 2022. The total requested cash and in-kind support is $34,978 and a total budget of $236,000 has been estimated for holding performances at the Esquimalt site.
Following the recent adoption of the updated Local Grants Policy, this application represents the first submission using the online, fillable form. During policy discussions, it was communicated that an evaluation matrix would be created. This is currently still being developed and will be in place for use by the Local Grant Committee when they meet in February 2022.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The decision regarding any local grant funding is at the discretion of Council.
2. Organizational Implications
There are no organizational implications of this decision.
3. Financial Implications
Within the 2021 Financial Plan, an amount of $151,500 was allocated for the purpose of issuing local grants. On February 1, 2021, Council approved the allocation of $128,500 of cash and in-kind support to applicants who applied prior to the December 31 deadline. This resulted in $23,000 being made available for ad hoc grant requests received during the remainder of the 2021 fiscal year.
This available total was increased by a net amount of $24,000 due to the 2021 Buccaneer Days event not being held as well as an approved grant of $6,000 for Green Teams of Canada. Currently, there is an available balance of $47,000 in the local grant account and any funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year will be transferred to the Township’s accumulated surplus for use as determined by Council.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications of this decision.
5. Communication & Engagement
The applicant will be notified of Council’s decision and, if funding is approved, a copy of the Local Grant Policy will be provided to ensure the recipient is aware of the reporting requirements and conditions of support.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council approve the request with support funded from the local grant account.
2. That Council approve funding for an amount less than the requested amount.
3. That Council deny the request for funding.